Hospital bed construction



Filed 001;. 5, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l "9 Jia/9722572' Dec. 14, 1943. J'. w. BQREN 2,336,454

HOSPITAL BEDI CONSTRUCTION Filed oct. 5, 1940 4 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Dec. 14, i943 UNITED STATE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in hospital bed constructions and more particularly to the bedstead as distinguished from the spring structure thereof, and it consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a hospital bed construction, with which certain adjuncts may be associated to make the same universal in its use for hospital purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hospital bed construction whereby one or more standards may be quickly, easily and detachably applied to any of the four corners thereof to sustain intravenous bottles, enema cans, or other adjuncts, thus avoiding the necessity of using standards for this purpose which have floor bases that are relatively heavy, make handling difficult and which occupy floor space adjacent the bed that may be better used for other purposes.

Also, it is an object of the invention to provide a hospital bed construction that includes parts with which the corner posts of an overhead frame may be readily and detachably applied, to properly suspend broken or fractured limbs or even the entire body if necessary.

Furthermore, it is -an object of the invention to provide, in a hospital bed construction, means so disposed as to be conveniently grasped by the occupant of the bed to assist in drawing himself or herself from a prone position into a. sitting position on the bed.

rEhe above mentioned objects of the invention, as well as others, together with the advantages thereof will more fully appear as the speciiication proceeds.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective View of a hospital bed construction that embodies one form of the invention and illustrates the same as having a socalled lee rail applied to one side of the bed and a bottle or can supporting standard applied to one of the corners of said construction for support in operative position thereon. Y

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the hospital bed construction shown in Fig. 1 after the lee rail and the standard shown in Fig. l have been removed therefrom.

Fig. 3 is a view in end elevation of the improved hospital bed construction as viewed from the foot end thereof.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal detail sectional View, on a further enlarged scale, through a part of the improved hospital bed construction as taken on the line 4--4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a vertical detail sectional view through parts shown in Fig. l as taken on the line 'si- 5 of said Fig. 4.

Fig. Gis a view in side elevation or a so-called lee rail that may be detachably applied to the improved hospital bed construction at one side or theother thereof, to prevent the occupant from rolling off the bed.

Fig. 7 is a perspective View of a conventional type of so-called Balkan frame that may be detachably applied to the improved hospital bed construction for supporting one'or more fractured limbs of the occupant of the bed.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings: lil and il indicate the head end and the foot end respectively of the bed. Both are preferably made of metal tubing.

The head end iii and the foot end H are substantially alike in structure, the head end, however, having a height greater than that of the i'oot end. Therefore, only one end (the foot end) will be described in detail as to like parts and like parts of the head end Will bear similar reference numerals.

The foot end of the bed embodies a pair of lai-,- orally spaced upright posts or legs l2 anda top horizontal connecting bar i3 which is preferably offset laterally from a plane passing through said posts. Preferably, said posts or legs are made from a single length of metal tubing bent into an inverted U shape. The-bottom end oi each post iii-l2 is provided with a caster wheel lli.

The foot end ll further includes a pair of upl right stems Ita-l5, one disposed adjacent each post i2 and disposed in the plane before mentioned. Each stem l5 is curved outwardly at its bottom end to be fixed to the bottom end of the adjacent post l2. To brace the lower portion of the foot end against spreading, a horizontal bar it connects the mid portions of said stems i5. To further brace and rigidity the foot end as an open frame, the same also includes a pair of oppositely disposed L-shaped members, each comprising an upright leg Il and a horizontal leg lEhe ymajor lower portions of the legs il and all of the legs it are disposed in the plane previously mentioned, as passing through said-*upright posts or legs l2-l2. The upper end of each leg Il is curved out of its vertical plane to meet and be connected to the cross bar i3 of said foot end. The horizontal leg I8 of each L-shaped member extends toward the adjacent post I2 and is not only fixed thereto but to the associated stem I5.

Also, the horizontal leg of each L-shaped member is connected to the member I6 by a spacer tube I9.

With the arrangement described, and partly due to the oiset of the top member I3, the head end and the foot end each provides an open frame structure which is extremely rigid and ably resists any torsion stresses imparted thereto in use so that it cannot be racked or twisted out of shape.

On the upper end portion of each stem I5 above the leg I8 ofthe adjacent L-shaped member is provided a bracket 2I that coacts with said portion in forming an open top end socket 20v which best appears in Fig. 5. All of said sockets; which may be employed either individuallyor col-1` lectively for a plurality of purposes are disposed in a plane below that of the cross bar I3.' Orre'of-j said purposes for said sockets is to receive a stand-4 ard forming an adjunct -for the bed as will bel mentioned in more detail later. may also `be-,usedfor .the attachmentl of-aabed spring. supporting,l frame vas will vappear later. Each bracket is in the form of a vertically disposed platehavingione endformed asa sleeve 22 whichembracesf-and -isweldedto the upper endy portion-of thestem I5. Thefjoint best appears in Figs...4 and 5.v r1`he bracket 2| is disposed in a plane at a right angle to the .plane previously mentioned andv is provided in thatend opposite the sleeve with `horizontallyopening bayonet slots o 23-.-23,.see Figs. 1 and 2. K

The head end I0 of the bed is made substantially the same as thefootend with the exception that it is somewhat higher than the foot end. It has a cross, bar ISaatthetop (see Figs. 1 and 2) which is offset in adirection inwardly of the bed and towardthe foot end as a whole, while the cross bar I3`of the foot end is offset in a direction away from Ythebed asa whole.

Any approved spring structure, only the frame n,

of .whichislhere shown `and fis indicated as a whole'at 24",may.be employed with the ends I8' and.II .inthepresent instance. Said frame includessidegrails'ZEl-25 to act asthespreaders or' reach bars between said head andfootends,A

Asl bestshown in Figs. 1 and 2, each'end of both side rails 25 .ofthe spring structure" frame' has/a vertically disposed plateV 2S; attached thereto and` each plateV is; associated `with "and laps an yasso# ci'ated bracket 2I'along theinner-facethereof-'as best" appearsA irr Fig, Each 'lplateV 2i`rcarries`a pair of studs^2 'IL arrangedto'register with and en-- gagein 'the -bayonet- -slotslf-Z 3`V in the associatedbracket 2I=. Registering openings-areprovidedin the. associated brackets 2 Il and platesfZIrespectively, to- -receivea lockir1g-1bolt-,2B-'that.carriesl a wing-nut 29 on its inner end.

When-.the.tWo-bedsteadends IILandI Il 'andzbed spring 'frame' structure: 24. arek disposed.l in. operas tive position-.to formthebed, .shown .in Fig.;1,.it I is apparent .thatby theeengagement, of theplate 2S.. atgeach corner; of the .spring frame structure, with iamassociated bracket. 2|, ,the side, `rails `25 K of4 the `springjrame structure act as 4reaches between saidends.V` By reason of the stud and slot arrangementand thelocking bolt arrangement betweeneach pair of engaged brackets and plates i 2| 26,a very substantiaiand rigid beu strucu turef-results, which will not warp or twist .out of shape whenthe bed. is vin use bya patient or when the bedis being moved about on` the casters i4 from kone `place ,to another.

Itis apparentirom Figl`2 that the axes'oftthe sockets 20'ofthe head end I0" areV disposedK in a plane tothe rear ofthe axisiof the lcrossbarw I3a1u Often a hospital patient desires to change his or her occupied position upon the bed. To this end the cross bar I3a of the head end is so disposed as to be within reach of the patient for grasping, in pulling himself or herself into a sitting position upon the bed. As to the bar I3 of the foot end, as appears in Figs. 1 and 2, it is to be noted that said bar is disposed in a plane outwardly from the end of the associated spring structure.

When a patient-occupant has a foot or leg injury, said bar I3 prevents visitors or the like from so closely approaching the spring structure as to bump the injured limb, from the foot end of the bed.

Insome hospital cases, it is necessary to support injured limbs from above, and this is usually doneib-y'the use `of an overhead frame. A conventional frame 3i) for this purpose, known as a Balkan frame, is shown in Fig. '7, when disassociated from the bed-as a whole. Such a frameincludes pairs of -end posts 3l and 32 respectively,'with the posts of each pair connected together by cross bars 334-33'.r These cross bars are'connected together by a longitudinal bar 34.

Pulleys or other vsuitable means (not shown) may be pendently supported from the said bars to receive the limb supporting cables. By reason ofthe Aoffset ofthe bars Iii-i3d; it is apparent that the pairs ofposts or standard 3 I-32 readily pass said bars when ythey are entered bottom end first into the-socketsEO at the four corners of the bed.-` When the-,bottom ends of said posts 3I--32 haveI been engaged in saidv sockets, they are disposed inwardly of the uprights or legs of the head and foot` ends.

Should the patient occupying VtheV bed require anzintravenous injection, or the like, the apparatusltherefor may be Ysuspended from one of the standards :5I- 32 when the frame is in position onzthe'bed.- Should the fracture frame not be in place upon-the bed, then under the conditions above mentioned, a standard 35 such as appears in Figs. l and 3 may be applied to that socket 20 L which is'in the most convenient position for the support of the necessary appliance.

Should the patient require side guards on one or `both sides ofthe bed, a so-called lee rail SI5 such as shown in Fig. 6 isemployed. Such a rail has oneor more vertical downwardly facing end extensions-'3T spaced apart to register with the pair of sockets Ztl-20 along the same side of the bedand' are merely inserted into the sockets at thesaidfside of the bed as appears in Fig. 1.

When Athe condition of the patient is such as not to require the use of a fracture frame 3U, standard 35 or lee rail 36 on the bed,fthe sockets EiieE'may be closed by a cap (not shown) for the sake of appearance.

From the above, itis apparentV thatv the bed structure described'isof a .universal'characten because almostV any condition required in `a hospital bed is ably accommodated.

While in describing the invention,"I have referred in detail to theA form; arrangement and construction of the parts invo1ve-d,`the same is toV bev considered only in the.illustrativesense'so that I do not wish to be limited theretorexcep't as maylbespecically set forth inthe appended claims. 'I

I claim as my invention:

l. A .hospital ...bed con'struction' embodying therein'iheadv and' foot endsfeachiincluding upright side portions 'anda toplconnecting portion, Inthe foot end, the same arrangemeneis present-#5ta post-like member spacedfinwardly from and xed to each side portion of each of said ends, a plate-like member xed to each post-like member and each adapted to receive a part of a bed spring supporting structure, at least one of said plate-like members being formed to provide an upwardly opening socket adapted to receive a part of an adjunct for the bed.

2. A hospital bed construction embodying therein a head end and a foot end and bed spring supporting means between said ends and spacing them apart, one of said ends including laterally spaced uprights, a member spaced inwardly of and arranged in the plane of both uprights and fixed at the top and bottom to and supported by an associated upright, and means carried by the upper end of each member and each including a part providing an upwardly opening socket to receive a part of an adjunct for the bed and each also including another part that extends toward the other end of the bed and is operatively engaged by an associated part of the bed spring supporting means for the support thereof.

3. A hospital bed construction embodying therein a head end and a foot end and bed spring supporting means between said ends and spacing them apart, each end including laterally spaced uprights, members spaced inwardly of and arranged in the plane of both uprights, one adjacent each upright, and respectively fixed to and supported by an adjacent upright and means carried by the upper end of each member and each including a part providing an upwardly opening socket to receive a part of an adjunct for the bed and each including another part that extends toward the other end of the bed and is operatively engaged by an associated part of the bed spring supporting means to support the same.

4. A hospital bed construction embodying therein a head end and a foot end and bed spring supporting means between said ends and spacing them apart, said ends being of an open frame construction and each including upright side posts and a top connecting member, a postlike member spaced laterally inwardly from each side of each end, means connecting the side posts and top connecting member of each end together and to the associated post-like members thereof, a member fixed to the upper end of each postlike member and providing an upwardly opening socket below said top member of the associated end and which sockets are each adapted to receive a part of an adjunct for the bed, and each of said members including a portion extending toward and engaging an associated part of the bed spring supporting means to support the same.

5. An end for the bedstead of a hospital bed including laterally spaced upright posts and a member connecting upper portions of said posts together, an upright member associated with each post and disposed substantially in the plane of said posts and each xed at its bottom end to an associated post, means connecting the mid portions of said posts together, and to the associated upright member and also connected to said iirst mentioned member, and means providing an upwardly opening socket at the top end of each upright member for receiving a part of an adjunct for the bed, each of said last mentioned means including a part to operatively engage a part of a bed spring supporting means.

6. An end for the bedstead of a hospital bed including laterally spaced upright posts and a member connecting upper portions of said posts together, an upright member associated with each post and disposed substantially in the plane of said posts and each xed at its bottom end to an associated post, means connecting the mid portions of said posts together and to the associated upright member and also connected to said first mentioned member, and a bracket-like member formed with a sleeve part and a ilange part associated with each upright member, with said sleeve part embracing a part of the associated upright member and extending above the same to form an upwardly opening socket thereon, the flange part of each bracket-like member extending in a plane at a right angle to the plane of the upright posts and being formed for attachment to a part of a bed spring supporting means.

7. An end member for a hospital bed embodying therein an inverted U-shaped structure comprising upright side posts and a top connecting member disposed in a plane laterally of the plane of said posts, an upright member spaced laterally inwardly of each post and xed at its bottom end thereto, a brace connecting the mid portions of said upright members together, members fixed to said top connecting member and extending downwardly therefrom and then laterally to be fixed to said brace and to said posts and upright members respectively, and means fixed to the upper end of each upright member and extending above the top thereof to there form an upwardly opening socket, adapted for supporting engagement with a part of a bed spring structure.

8. An end member for a hospital bed embodying therein an inverted U-shaped structure com- Y' prising upright side posts and a top connecting member disposed in a plane laterally of the plane of said posts, an upright member spaced laterally inwardly of each post and fixed at its bottom end thereto, a brace connecting the mid portions of said upright members together, members iixed to said top connecting member and extending downwardly therefrom and then laterally to be fixed to said brace and to said posts and upright members respectively, and means iixed to the upper end of each upright member and extending above the top thereof to there form an upwardly opening socket adapted for supporting engagement with a part of a bed spring structure, each of said last mentioned means including an upright ange-like part arranged at a right angle to a plane passing through said posts and formed for supporting engagement with a part of a bed spring structure.

J OHN WM. BOREN. 

